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John D. Vanderwielen walks out of Tippecanoe County Courthouse Superior Court 2 with his father, Douglas Vanderwielen, Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 in Lafayette. John D. Vanderwielen is accused of aggravated battery with risk on life, domestic battery with a deadly weapon, battery with a deadly weapon, domestic battery, battery resulting in bodily injury, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement and possession of paraphernalia after allegedly taking three hits of acid before attacking his parents.
(Photo: Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier)

LAFAYETTE — John Vanderwielen will be 20 by the time he's released from the court's supervision for stabbing his father and punching his mother during an acid-trip assault, according to court records.

The agreement is for 18 months, and at the end of that time — if he's complied with the behaviors required in the agreement — the charges from the Jan. 26, 2019, attack will be dismissed, according to the agreement signed Thursday by prosecutors, Vanderwielen and his attorney.

Vanderwielen, who was 17 at the time of the attacks, will be required to maintain lawful behavior, get his high school equivalency and successfully complete the Restoration Men's Ministry through Faith Church, according to the agreement.

Until his acceptance into the Restoration Men's Ministry, he will remain on community corrections and will live with his aunt and uncle, where he's lived since posting bond last summer.

He waived any confidentially for the ministry's program, and he also waived his Fourth Amendment protections from unreasonable search and seizure, according to the agreement,

During the agreement, Vanderwielen cannot return to his parent's house in the 3900 block of Sunnycoft Place in rural West Lafayette, where the attacks happened, according to the agreement. Additionally, the no-contact order prescribing how he can interact with his parents remains in effect during the deferment program.

His status will be reviewed by the court every 90 days during the deferment, according to the agreement.

If he goes astray from the agreement's conditions, prosecutors can revoke the agreement, and he might be prosecuted.

If prosecutors revoke the agreement, Vanderwielen faces felony charges of domestic battery with a deadly weapon, battery with a deadly weapon and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon. He also faces misdemeanors of domestic battery, battery with injury, resisting law enforcement and possession of paraphernalia. Additionally, prosecutors could refile the most serious charge that was dismissed last week.

According to Indiana law, a diversion agreement can be offered by prosecutors to defendants charged with lower level felonies, as well as misdemeanors. The Level 3 felony was an impediment to the diversion agreement.

A status hearing is scheduled for Feb. 28, during which it is likely the court will sanction the agreement.

The teen's legal problems in adult court started early Jan. 26, 2019, when he punched his mother in the face, then went downstairs and stabbed his father in the neck and face, according to a probable cause affidavit filed after his arrest.

Vanderwielen was waived into adult court on Feb. 14, 2019.

Reach Ron Wilkins at 765-420-5231 or at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

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